News

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has closed certain businesses and is urging Alaskans to stay home to avoid spreading the coronavirus. But some state employees still have to report to their offices, and outrage is percolating.

With COVID-19 concerns, hand sanitizer has been flying off the shelves. But distilleries are creating their own product.

Alaska Supreme Court Chief Justice Joel Bolger issued an order March 19 that also temporarily suspends the rule requiring a speedy trial for defendants.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced the death at a news conference Tuesday evening. He underscored that Alaskans must stay away from each other to slow the spread of the virus: “Two weeks is what we’re asking. We believe that in this two-week period, we can do so much to combat this virus.”

Ambulance crews will still respond to calls in person. The change in practice is aimed at freeing up hospital resources for higher-risk patients.

One bill would extend Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s disaster emergency declaration for the state until Sept. 1.

A hospital spokesperson says the patient is currently in critical care at Bartlett Regional Hospital

Experts say COVID-19’s relatively late arrival in Alaska, combined with its isolation, could give the state an advantage over areas that had less time to prepare.

There’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding education right now. Schools statewide are closed until at least May 1, but that doesn’t mean instruction has ended.

From Juneau’s resident art-film buff and Gold Town Nickelodeon owner Collette Costa, here are seven recommendations — all of which have been screened at Gold Town and skew toward the underrated, independent, and eclectic.

On Wednesday, the Alaska Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the lawsuit over the legality of the recall election effort against Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

The resolution includes a number of exemptions for critical businesses related to health care, construction, shipping and home repair.

As originally written, the Juneau Assembly’s emergency resolution would institute a mandatory 14-day quarantine for anyone arriving from out-of-state or a community with confirmed coronavirus cases. But Juneau’s two largest private employers objected.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s administration announced on Monday that anyone entering Alaska from out of state must self-quarantine themselves for 14 days and monitor for symptoms. The mandate goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday.

Wasilla Republican Sen. Mike Shower proposed the payment as an amendment to the budget bill. Senators intend for the payments to be made immediately after the bill passes.

Legislators who represent the bulk of Alaska’s villages are asking the state’s congressional delegation to try to extend the deadline for Alaskans to get REAL ID-compliant identification.

“The latest two releases of the ‘Call of Duty’ video game have put more demand on our network than recent events, and our network continues to operate flawlessly,” says Alaska Communications’ external affairs director.

At the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, the installation commander has declared a public health emergency due to an elevated risk on the base for “sustained community transmission.”

The state epidemiologist says some new cases in Anchorage indicate community transmission.

The Assembly debated the measure for several hours on Sunday, trying to balance protecting public health, minimizing economic hardship, and how far to infringe civil liberties.